Michael Poeltl - An Interview:

What type of stories do you write? I write stories that get in your head. Ones that will stay with you. I like lots of
drama, sometimes it spawns from a situation and sometimes it comes from the character themself. I write in first person almost exclusively.

What drew you to that writing style? I prefer first person tellings because for me, it is the character that drives a story and not the situation. To read in first person allows the reader to really get inside the head of the main character and understand why he/she made the choices they did, right or wrong. You live the characters life and wonder if you'd
make the same choices in their place.

Who is your favorite author(s)? Dan Simmons has always told a facinating story, his Hyperion series is oneof my all time favourite reads. I also enjoyed Justin Cronin's The Passage recently, a book that plays on the same themes as
my own in that an Apocalypse of some design strikes the planet.

Have you read any books recently that you did not like? And why? I've read plenty of books that I did not like, but I'll keep those to myself. I can tell you I do not like a book that tends to go nowhere until the very end.

What will readers like about your book?

Readers of the genre will appreciate the descriptive telling of the Apocalypse that befalls the teens. They will be able to firmly plant themselves in the world of The Judas Syndrome, and through the main character Joel, live each moment as he experiences them.
The Judas Syndrome is about the human experence when faced with a nuclear armageddon, and all the inherent problems that come with it. No Zombies or Vampires find their footing here.

Why did you self publish?

I decided to self-publish in order to build a fan following and reviews so that I could take my book(s) to an agent or publisher with a proven track record. I've had each book professionally edited as well (which is important). My books being Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic fiction is also a bonus, as the genre is exploding right now with books like The Hunger Games and The Passage having done so well.
At the rate my books are selling, I'm not sure I will bother with a traditional publisher. There are so many ways to market yourself for free on-line now, through forums and bloggers and social media, I can't see doing much better via a publishing house unless they dropped a million dollars in an effort to mass market me.

What inspired you to write this particular story?

Inspiration came to me on summer's evening as I sat upon the roof of a friends family home in the country. There we discussed the inevitability of an apocalyptic event, prophesy that supported it, population densities, wars, the theft of the earths' resources and decided where we were, should an end come quickly, would offer the best option for survival. The scenarios that would reveal themselves through the telling of such a catastrophe excited me, and the story-teller in me emerged.

Anything else you would like your readers to know? I recently was voted author of the year in View magazine's Best
of 2010 readers poll. This is an alternative arts & life magazine that reaches over 1 million potential voters/viewers.

Michael Poeltl was voted Best Writer/Author for 2010 in October by View Magazine:
A weekly alternative newspaper reaching over 1 million potential voters/viewers.